A Simple Valentine

I've been spotting the toilet paper roll heart paintings all over Pinterest and figured it would be perfect for my last minute valentines we needed to get mailed.


The kids had a great time making a dozen cards for family (and Tayden's best friend) and it was a really easy craft for them (1.5 and 3 years old).



I put myself in charge of addressing the envelopes because I just found these stamps that I used to play with as a child! The full alphabet! They make me real happy.



So if you've been too busy to get anything done before today, fret not! Grab a roll, paint and a blank card. Have fun!

Favorites Friday, Art, Food & Parties

Here's a random slew of ideas I've found inspiration from the past few weeks on the interweb.


{1: eskimo kiss. so sweet. via, 2: caterpillar and mushrooms, 3: a good day print, 4: apples and salty medjool caramel, 5: love you more download, 6: color ratio chart. pure brilliance, 7: mail a tube of chappy for the cost of a stamp}

Busy Bag for Flying, Geometric Puzzle

See how small and compact this puzzle is? It's deceiving. This puzzle packs a brainy punch!


I took cue from all the geometric love out there, like this giant geometric puzzle, or these little wooden cubes, and made one out of thin cardboard so it doesn't take up precious cargo space.


I cut these into 2x2 squares then used painters tape corner to corner to get a straight line. Grab some acrylic paints then paint away, leave some blank, add a little silver bling, sky's the limit!


If traveling in the car, you could get a sturdier piece of cardboard and stick a bunch of little velcro strips 2 inches apart, and put the opposing side on each square so they stay in place on a bumpy car ride.


This project is great for color matching, fine motor skills and shape recognition. I'm super thrilled with it and hope it brings many miles of enjoyment.

Gallery Wall for Artwork and Christmas Cards

{I am giddy with delight for today's guest post from Abbey over at Aesthetic Outburst.

you can find her amazing handiwork gracing pages all over the blogisphere. from the creative art in her shop,
to  making and styling costumes for Parents Magazine, and everything in between! this is a blog you'll want to bookmark and visit daily.

here today she is sharing a tutorial for a gallery wall. use it to hang art work or for displaying Christmas cards. thanks for the great idea Abbey!}

Hi, I’m Abbey Hendrickson! I live with my little family in rural upstate New York. We recently purchased an old, abandoned farmhouse and have spent the last few months working to make it our own. When I’m not tearing down walls or refilling sippy cups, I write a blog called Aesthetic Outburst and work as a freelance craft stylist. Thanks so much to Christen for inviting me here as a guest blogger!


One of the first things we did when we moved into our house was to make a gallery wall for our kiddos (ages 2 and 4). They’re both quite prolific and love to see their artwork displayed. Making a gallery wall is simple, and kids of all ages will love having a spot to hang artwork, photos, or important reminders. You’ll need:

screw eyes
wire (I used 18 gauge)
wire cutters
a level and/or measuring tape
clothespins
artwork




Instructions:

1. Mark the spot where you want to put your first screw eye. Using a level or tape measure, mark the spot where you want the matching screw eye. Mine are about 3 feet apart.
2. Twist the screw eyes into each mark.
3. Secure wire around the first screw eye and stretch the wire to the other. Wrap wire around that screw eye and cut off any excess wire.
4. Continue for each level, being sure to take into account the average size of your artwork and keep enough space in between.
5. Hang your artwork!